Chicago 
illustrated 


Published  by  the 

Metropolitan 
Business 
College 

Corner  Monroe  Street 
and  Michigan  Avenue 

Chicago 


LINCOLN  MONUMENT. 


VIEW  IN  STATE  STREET  LOOKING  NORTH 


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CAPITAL  OF  THE         Wr  \^H  K^/YVJW  & 

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HERE  are  few  cities  in  the  United  States  that  can  boast  more  points 
of  interest  than  Chicago,  the  metropolis  of  the  Northwest.  Owing 
to  its  situation  upon  the  southern  shore  of  lake  Michigan,  surrounded 
by  half  a  dozen  rich  and  prosperous  states,  the  commerce  of  which  is  all  more 
or  less  tributary  to  this  center,  Chicago  has  acquired  a  world  wide  reputation 
as  a  thriving,  enterprising  and  prosperous  commercial  city. 

Its  rapid  and  continuous  growth  in  population  and  wealth  during  the 
last  two  or  three  decades  has  made  Chicago  the  second  city  in  size  in  the 
Union,  having  a  population  according  to  the  census  in  1900,  of  1,698,575 
souls,  while  the  volume  of  commerce  of  the  city  has  kept  pace  with  her 
progress  in  other  respects. 

Chicago  is  divided  by  the  river  and  its  branches  into  three  parts,  called 
"the  south  side,"  which  comprises  the  main  business  district  and  a  large 
residence  section  lying  directly  south  along  the  lake  shore;  "the  north  side," 
consisting  of  a  smaller  residence  and  business  section  lying  north  of  the 
Tiver  and  extending  northward  from  the  business  center ;  and  the  "west  side," 
embracing  all  that  extensive  portion  of  the  city  lying  west  of  the  two  arms 
or  branches  of  the  river.  The  city  is  well  supplied  with  rapid  transit  facilities, 
consisting  of  cable  and  electric  cars,  elevated,  and  steam  railroads,  so  that  it 
is  quite  an  easy  task  to  reach  any  portion  of  the  city  quickly,  and  at  a  cost 
of  but  a  few  cents.  The  streets  are  all  wide  and  intersect  each  other,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  at  right  angles,  making  the  geography  of  the  city,  quite 
simple. 

3 


CHICAGO   PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 


It  is,  indeed,  difficult  to  realize  that  in  1833,  less  than  an  ordinary  lifetime 
ago,  Chicago  consisted  of  a  rude  fort  situated  near  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
surrounded  by  a  stockade  designed  as  a  protection  of  its  few  dozen  inhabitants 
against  the  Indians.  The  location  of  this  fort  (Fort  Dearborn)  was  just 
south  of  what  is  now  Rush  street  bridge,  at  the  intersection  of  Michigan 
avenue  and  Water  street,  where  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  W.  M.  Hoyt 
&  Co.  now  stands.  The  spot  is  marked  by  a  marble  tablet  of  Fort  Dearborn 
set  in  the  brick  wall  of  the  building. 

Leaving  this  historic  spot  we  may  walk  directly  south  in  Michigan  avenue 
two  blocks  and  find  ourselves  at  the  large  substantial  building  of  the  Chicago 
Public  Library.     This  building  was  completed  in  1896  at  a  cost  of  over  two 


million  dollars,  and  the  site  is  worth  a  million  more.  This  is  the  finest  library 
building  in  the  United  States,  except  the  Congressional  Library  at  Washing- 
ton. The  visitor  should  enter  at  the  Washington  street  end,  and  upon 
ascending  the  great  staircase  will  find  himself  at  once  in  the  delivery  room, 
which  is  interesting.  The  reading  room,  reference  room  and  other  portions 
of  the  building  are  open  to  visitors.  The  library  now  contains  nearly  300,000 
volumes. 

Continuing  south  in  Michigan  avenue  from  the  library  another  square 
brings  us  to  the  great  mail  order  house  of  Montgomery  Ward  &  Co.  This 
firm  receives  from  10,000  to  25,000  letters  and  orders  every  day.  They 
employ  1,400  clerks.  The  tower  to  their  store  is  25  stories  high.  Out  of 
town  people  are  always  welcome,  and  capable  guides  conduct  them  through 
the  establishment. 

One  block  farther  south,  at  the  corner  of  Michigan  avenue  and  Monroe 
street,  stands  one  of  Chicago's  prominent  educational  institutions,  the  Metro- 
politan Business  College,  to  which  visitors  are  always  welcome,  and  a  short 


THE   ART   INSTITUTE. 
5 


distance  farther,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  avenue,  is  another,  the  Art 
Institute,  occupying  a  massive  stone  building  in  the  Italian  Renaissance 
style.  The  museum  and  galleries  are  open  to  visitors  free  of  charge  on 
Wednesdays,  Saturdays,  Sundays  and  all  public  holidays,  and  richly  repay 
a  visit. 

Passing  west  along  Adams  street  one  block  brings  us  beneath  the 
structure  of  the  elevated  road,  over  which  pass  trains  destined  for  all  parts 
of  the  city.  A  block  farther  west  we  reach  State  street,  the  great  retail 
thoroughfare  of  the  city,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  stands  'The 
Fair,"  the  great  retail  establishment  and  the  pioneer  department  store  of 
Chicago,  occupying  a  nine  story  building  a  block  in  length,  extending  from 
State  to  Dearborn  streets.  This  store  employs  3,500  clerks  and  40,000 
customers  throng  its  aisles  daily.  Proceeding  along  westward  to  Dearborn 
street  we  turn  south  and  pass  the  Great  Northern  Hotel  on  the  left,  and  the 
magnificent  new  Post  Office  and  Custom  House  in  process  of  erection  on 
our  right. 

At  Jackson  boulevard  we  turn  west  again,  past  the  great  Monadnock 
building  and  then  the  Union  League  Club,  with  its  round  tower  on  the  corner. 
This  club  is  in  some  respects  the  leading  social  organization  of  Chicago,  and 
many  important  public  movements  originate  among  its  membership. 

Continuing  westward  the  next  crossing  is  Clark  street.  On  the  right  is  the 
Grand  Pacific  hotel  and  on  the  left  the  beautiful  Western  Union  building.  A 
block  farther  west  on  Jackson  boulevard  brings  us  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  the 
greatest  and  most  famous  commercial  exchange  in  the  world.  The  building  is 
of  handsome  architecture  and  granite  construction.  The  great  exchange  hall 
is  on  the  second  floor  and  is  the  main  feature  of  the  interior  of  the  building. 
Galleries  for  visitors  are  provided,  from  which  crowds  daily  view  the  exciting 
scenes  on  the  floor  below.  The  exchange  hall  is  150x175  feet  in  size  and  80  feet 
high.  The  regular  hours  of  daily  session  of  the  board  are  from  9 130  to  1 
o'clock,  but  the  best  hour  to  see  the  excitement  among  the  "bulls"  and  "bears" 
at  its  height  is  about  noon. 

After  seeing  the  Board  of  Trade  a  visit  should  be  made  to  the  Illinois  Trust 
and  Savings  Bank,  situated  directly  opposite  on  La  Salle  street,  occupying  a 

6 

\ 


massive  two-story  granite  structure,  fronted  with  corinthian  columns.  This 
is  the  finest  bank  building  in  the  United  States.  The  best  position  in  which  to 
get  a  good  view  is  the  gallery.  This  bank  has  a  capital  of  $4,000,000  and 
deposits  amounting  to  over  $50,000,000.  The  safety  vaults  in  the  basement, 
where  valuables  are  stored  by  the  bank's  customers,  are  well  worth  a  visit. 

LaSalle  street  may  be  called  the  Wall  street  of  Chicago,  for  here  are  located 
the  principal  moneyed  institutions  of  the  city — the  banks,  insurance  and  brokers' 


COURT   HOUSE  AND   CITY   HAI^L. 

7 


offices.  Fine  modern  business  buildings  line  the  street  on  either  side.  At  the 
corner  of  LaSalle  and  Monroe  streets  stands  the  beautiful  "Woman's  Temple," 
erected  by  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  in  1892  at  a  cost  of  a  million  dollars,  and  on  the 
opposite  corner  is  the  New  York  Life  building.     Two  blocks  farther  north  we 

come  to  the  Stock  Exchange,  occupying  a 
beautiful  exchange  hall  in  the  great  fire-proof 
structure  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Washing- 
ton and  LaSalle  streets. 

Diagonally  opposite    the    Stock    Exchange 
building  is  the  court  house  and  city  hall,  with 
its   massive  pillars  and  walls,   making  it   one 
of  the  most  imposing  public  buildings  in  the 
city.     It  occupies  a  central  position  in  the  busi- 
ness district  of  the  city  and  is  one  of  the  finest 
buildings  devoted  to  municipal  purposes  in  the 
world.       The    building    occupies     an    entire 
square,  one-half  being  used  by  the  city 
and  the  other  half  by  the  county.     The 
cost  of  the  building  was  about  $4,500,- 
000.     In   noting  distances   in    Chicago 
the  court  house  is  the  central  figure  or 
starting  point. 

Passing  eastward  along  Washington 
street  we  cross  Clark  street  again,  at 
the  Methodist  church  corner,  and  con- 
tinue east  until  we  reach  State  street 
again.  At  the  southeast  corner  of 
State  and  Washington  streets  stands 
the  beautiful  Columbus  Memorial 
building,  one  of  the  finest  office  build- 
ings in  the  city.  Directly  north  across  Washington  street  stands  the  mam- 
moth retail  store  of  Marshall  Field  &  Co.  A  stroll  through  the  store  is  an 
interesting  sight.     A  block  farther  north  on  State  street  we  come  to  the 

8 


COLUMBUS  MEMORIAL  BUILDING. 


great  Masonic  Temple,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Randolph  street.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  noteworthy  buildings  in  Chicago.  It  is  twenty-one 
stories  high,  rising  to  the  height  of  302  feet.  The  cost  of  this  building  was 
$3,500,000.  On  the  top  of  the  building  is  an  observatory  that  commands 
the  best  view  of  the  city  to  be  had  from  any  point.  Admission  to  the 
observatory  is  25  cents.  Take  elevators.  In  summer  a  roof  garden 
theater  flourishes  here  also.     Great  as  the  building  is  the  visitor  cannot 

taken  an  elevator  and  ascended  to  one  of 
ff  6  JW         1       g"  would  accommodate  the  entire  popula- 


LAWRENCE  J.  GUTTER 

Collection  of  Chicagoana 

THE    UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 
AT  CHICAGO 

The  University  Library 


UNION   STOCK   YARDS. 
9 


offices.  Fine  modern  business  buildings  line  the  street  on  either  side.  At  the 
corner  of  LaSalle  and  Monroe  streets  stands  the  beautiful  ''Woman's  Temple," 
erected  by  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  in  1892  at  a  cost  of  a  million  dollars,  and  on  the 
opposite  corner  is  the  New  York  Life  building.    Two  blocks  farther  north  we 

come  to  the  Stock  Exchange,  occupying  a 
beautiful  exchange  hall  in  the  great  fire-proof 
structure  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Washing- 
ton and  LaSalle  streets. 

Diagonally  opposite    the    Stock    Exchange 

building  is  th 

its   massive  j 

of  the  most  i 

city.     It  occu 

ness  district  c 

buildings  dev 

world.       The 

squar 

and  tl 

cost  c 

000. 

the  cc 

startii 

Pas 

street 

the  M 

tinue 

again. 

State 

the 

buildi 

ings  in  the  city.  Directly  north  across  W 
moth  retail  store  of  Marshall  Field  &  Co. 
interesting  sight.     A  block  farther  north 

8 


COLUMBUS  MEMORIAL  BUILDING. 


great  Masonic  Temple,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Randolph  street.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  noteworthy  buildings  in  Chicago.  It  is  twenty-one 
stories  high,  rising  to  the  height  of  302  feet.  The  cost  of  this  building  was 
$3,500,000.  On  the  top  of  the  building  is  an  observatory  that  commands 
the  best  view  of  the  city  to  be  had  from  any  point.  Admission  to  the 
observatory  is  25  cents.  Take  elevators.  In  summer  a  roof  garden 
theater  flourishes  here  also.  Great  as  the  building  is  the  visitor  cannot 
realize  its  true  size  until  he  has  taken  an  elevator  and  ascended  to  one  of 
the  upper  stories.  This  building  would  accommodate  the  entire  popula- 
tion of  a  town  the  size  of  Waukegan. 


UNION   STOCK   YARDS. 
9 


HAVING  now  taken  a  hasty  and  necessarily  imperfect  view  of  the 
business  portion  of  the  city,  the  visitor  may  proceed  to  explore  the 
more  distant  points  of  interest. 

Taking  the  South  Side  elevated  road  one  block  east  of  the  Masonic  Temple 
and  alighting  at  Forty-third  street  (fare  five  cents),  then  taking  an  electric  car 
westward,  the  visitor  may  see  the  great  Union  Stock  Yards,  the  largest  live  stock 
market  in  the  world.  The  yards  occupy  over  400  acres  of  land  and  all  the  rail- 
roads entering  Chicago  are  connected  with  them.  The  yards  cost  about  five  mil- 
lion dollars,  and  the  various  great  packing  companies  have  buildings  in  the 
vicinity  representing  an  investment  of  over  twenty  million  dollars ;  25,000  men 
are  employed  in  and  about  the  yards  and  packing  houses.  The  visitor  who 
wishes  to  make  a  thorough  tour  of  the  yards  should  engage  a  guide  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

Leaving  the  yards  by  the  Forty-third  street  car  line,  the  visitor  may  continue 
east  until  Cottage  Grove  avenue  is  reached,  and  there  change  to  the  cable  car 
going  south  marked  "Jackson  Park."  A  ride  of  three  miles  brings  one  to  "the 
famous  Jackson  Park,"  the  site  of  the  World's  Fair  "White  City"  of  1893.  The 
landscape  features  of  the  park  were  completely  destroyed  for  the  construction  of 
the  fair  buildings,  but  the  park  is  now  mostly  restored  to  its  pristine  beauty.  Only 
one  of  the  great  palaces  of  the  fair  still  stands — what  was  then  the  Art  Palace, 
now  the  Field  Columbian  Museum.  This  museum  is  well  worth  a  visit,  as  it 
contains  a  vast  collection  of  specimens  illustrating  art,  science,  archeology  and 
history.  Admission  free  on  Saturdays  and  Sundays.  Other  days,  adults,  25 
cents  ;  children,  10  cents. 

A  walk  of  a  few  blocks  west  from  Jackson  Park  along  the  famous  "Midway" 
brings  one  to  the  Chicago  University,  one  of  the  great  universities  of  the 
country,  founded  by  John  D.  Rockefeller  in  1889.  Three  thousand  students  are 
in  attendance,  and  the  endowment  is  about  $12,000,000.  A  convenient  way  in 
which  to  return  to  the  city  is  by  the  Illinois  Central  suburban  trains,  which  skirt 
along  the  shore  of  the  lake,  giving  one  of  the  finest  views  of  the  harbor  and 
water  front  of  the  city. 

An  interesting  tour  may  be  made  to  Lincoln  Park  and  the  north  portion  of 
the  city.    Take  the  cable  cars  as  they  pass  around  "the  loop,"  in  the  heart  of  the 


GRANT   MONUMENT,    IJNCOI,N   PARK. 

city — that  is,  going  north  in  Dearborn  street.  These  cars  pass  through  a  tunnel 
under  the  river,  in  itself  a  wonderful  work  of  engineering,  and  well  worth  see- 
ing. After  leaving  the  tunnel  north  of  the  river  the  car  swings  back  on  North 
Clark  street  and  you  pass  within  one  block  of  the  county  jail  and  criminal  courts, 
famous  for  many  such  celebrated  cases  as  the  trial  and  execution  of  the  an- 
archists. Leaving  your  cable  car  at  Chicago  avenue,  you  walk  east  to  the  lake 
shore  (four  blocks)  and  inspect  one  of  the  great  pumping  works  which  supplies 
the  city  with  pure  lake  water.  There  are  five  of  these  pumping  works  in  the 
city,  the  largest  of  which  is  at  Fourteenth  street,  two  blocks  east  of  Wabash 
avenue.  These  pumps  draw  the  water  through  a  tunnel  from  the  crib  situated 
four  miles  out  in  the  lake.  The  crib  may  be  easily  seen  from  the  shore  on  a  clear 
day. 

ir 


▲ 


After  inspecting  the  Water  Works  you  may  walk  north  along  the  Lake  Shore 
Drive,  past  the  homes  of  many  of  Chicago's  prominent  citizens,  including  that  of 
Mr.  Totter  1 'aimer,  built  after  the  style  of  a  Norman  castle,  and  a  stroll  of  a  mile 
brings  you  to  Lincoln  Park.  The  principal  objects  of  interest  in  the  park  are 
the  Lincoln  Monument,  as  shown  in  the  frontispiece  of  this  book;  the  Grant 
Monument,  the  lagoons,  the  boat  house,  the  collection  of  animals  and  the 
flowers. 

Garfield  and  Douglas  Parks,  on  the  west  side  of  the  city,  are  spots  of  beauty 


VIEW   IN   UNCOLN    PARK. 
12 


VIEW  IN   DREXEI,   BOULEVARD. 

at  the  proper  season.  The  boulevards  of  Chicago  afford  ample  opportunities  for 
driving  or  bicycling.  The  monuments  of  Chicago  are  numerous,  and  attest  the 
public  spirit  and  munificence  of  her  wealthy  citizens.  The  most  centrally  located 
of  these  is  that  of  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  in  the  Lake  Front  Park.  There  are  also 
several  fountains  that  are  works  of  merit  as  examples  of  architecture  and 
sculpture  and  which  rank  among  the  ornaments  of  the  city. 

As  an  educational  center  Chicago  ranks  with  the  great  cities  of  the  world, 
both  in  the  number  and  high  reputation  of  her  institutions  of  learning.  Among 
these  may  be  taken  the  Metropolitan  Business  College  as  an  example. 
The  building  occupied  by  the  College,  of  which  we  give  an  illustration  on  page 
14  is  of  brick,  seven  stories,  of  handsome  elevation,  with  an  ornamental  stone 
doorway.  This  appropriate  entrance  opens  into  a  spacious  lobby  with  marble 
walls  and  tiled  floor,  from'  which  two  passenger  elevators  afford  easy  access 
to  the  rooms  and  offices  above.     The  College  occupies  the  four  upper  floors 

13 


of  the  building*,  the  business  office  and  Principal's  room  being  situated  on  the 
fourth  floor.  Every  school  room  has  wide  and  lofty  windows,  which  look 
to  the  south,  thus  affording  abundance  of  light  and  sunshine,  so  essential  in 
a  study  room.  The  furniture  and  trimmings  throughout  are  of  natural  oak, 
thus  giving  a  cheerful  effect  to  the  rooms.  The  entire  institution  is  fitted  with 
electric  light  and  each  department  is  in  communication  with  the  office  by  tele- 
phone. 

The  typewriting  depart- 
ment is  fitted  with  over  one 
hundred  first-class,  modern 
typewriting  machines  of 
standard  make,  each  provid- 
ed with  a  new  and  unique 
device  in  the  form  of  a  copy 
holder,  for  the  purpose  of 
teaching  touch  typewriting. 
The  entire  sixth  floor  of 
the  building  is  occupied  by 
the  Counting  House  Depart- 
ment, fitted  up  with  banks 
and  offices  designed  to  repre- 
sent a  miniature  business 
world,  where  the  students 
are  given  practical  office 
drills  and  experience  in  the 
routine  of  business  transac- 
tions and  office  duties  and 
discipline.  This  department 
is  under  the  direction  of  a 
manager  who  is  a  practical 
business  man,  aided  by  two 
experienced  assistants,  and 
the  accuracy,  system  and 
precision  which  prevail 
throughout  the  department  is  interesting  and  inspiring. 

14 


THE   COLLEGE   BUILDING. 


The  seventh  floor  is  divided  into  study  departments  and  class  rooms,  the 
latter  being  seated  with  comfortable  opera  chairs.  Along  the  north  walls  of 
the  main  halls  extend  the  lockers  for  students'  coats  and  wraps.  Each  study 
room  is  provided  with  filtered  drinking  water. 

Visitors  are  always  welcome  and  will  be  conducted  through  the  College 
rooms  by  a  competent  guide  upon  application  at  the  office.     The  College  has 


FINISHING  DEPARTMENT,  COMMERCIAL   COURSE. 

been  established  and  prominently  before  the  public  since  1873,  and  during  the 
winter  months  has  a  regular  daily  attendance  of  almost  a  thousand  students. 
By  the  original,  novel  and  practical  methods  employed  in  this  College  it  has 
achieved  a  wide  reputation  as  a  school  of  finance  and  business,  and  students 
are  attracted  to  it  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States.  Its  popularity  has  been 
attained  mainly  on  account  of  the  enterprise  and  originality  displayed  by  its 

15 


L 


officers  in  the  methods  of  conducting  the  school  and  the  high  standard  of 
results  achieved  in  the  training  of  its  pupils.  Graduates  of  this  College  may 
be  found  in  every  business  house  of  any  importance  in  Chicago  or  the  north- 
west ,and  many  heads  of  prominent  firms  trace  their  start  to  the  course  of 
discipline  received  in  the  Metropolitan  Business  College. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  courses  as  taught  in  the  College,  a  systematic  de- 
partment of  mail  lesson  instruction  is  maintained  in  the  College  by  which  non- 
resident students  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States  and  foreign  countries  are 
instructed  through  correspondence.  The  system  of  Home  Study  or  Mail  Les- 
son instruction  as  carried  on  by  this  College  has  proven  a  great  success  and 
widely  extended  the  popular  influence  of  the  institution. 


16 


